Side inlet swivel

ABSTRACT

A new and improved swivel having an inlet on the side thereof for admitting fluid to the bore of the swivel to admit fluid in addition to fluid flowing longitudinally through the bore of the swivel, or to admit a second differential fluid from that flowing longitudinally through the swivel, or to admit fluid beyond a solid drive connection such as used in road boring.

United States Patent [72] inventor Charies A. Grantom Houston, Tex. [21] Appl. No. 857,953 [22] Filed Sept. 15, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [73 Assignee King Oil Took [54] SIDE INLET SWIVEL 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 175/215, 285/190 [51] Int. Cl ..E2lb 21102, E21c 7/10 [501 Field olsearch [75/207, 213, 214,215; 285/190, 16

[56) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,120,132 6/1938 Hawkins 175/215 X 2,234,454 3/1941 175/215 2,849,213 8/1958 175/215 X 3,000,453 9/1961 175/214 X 3,077,358 2/1963 175/215 X 3,096,103 7/1963 175/215 X 3,155,179 11/1964 175/215 3,492,025 1/1970 285/190X Primary Examiner-David H. Brown Attorney- Pravel, Wilson & Matthews ABSTRACT: A new and improved swivel having an inlet on the side thereof for admitting fluid to the bore of the swivel to admit fluid in addition to fluid flowing longitudinally through the bore of the swivel, or to admit a second differential fluid from that flowing longitudinally through the swivel, or to admit fluid beyond a solid drive connection such as used in road boring.

SIDE INLET SWIVEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention is swivels, and particularly swivels used for drilling wells or for road boring.

In the drilling of oil wells and the like, it is customary to provide a-swivel at the upper end of a drill string for supplying drilling mud or other fluid downwardly through the bore of the swivel to the drill pipe. A side inlet has been provided below an upper inlet in a swivel for countercurrent fluid flow as disclosed in US. Pat, No. 3,208,539.

SUMMARY OF TI-IEINVENTION THe present invention relates to a new and improved side inlet swivel which is adapted to be used below an upper inlet swivel in the drilling of wells, or is adapted to be used beyond a solid drive connection such as used in boring tunnels or horizontal holes under roads, The side inlet swivel of this invention has an inner tub which forms the longitudinal bore for fluid introduced at the upper end thereof and which also provides a distribution chamber from the side inlet of the swivel. The swivel of this invention has a washpipe removably mounted on the swivel body for providing a wear element which may be replaced when worn to thereby prolong the useful life of the swivel of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevation, "partly in section, of the preferred form of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 2- 2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, the letter A designates generally [the side inlet swivel of this invention which is normally adapted to be disposed in a string of drill pipe below a regular upper inlet swivel, whose stem 10 (a portion of which is shown) is con nected to the swivel A, as will be more evident hereinafter." The drilling mud or other fluid is normally conveyed through the regular upper inlet swivel, an example of which is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,388. As will be explained more in detail, the side inlet swivel A permits the introduction of additional drilling mud or fluid through the side inlet swivel A for mixing with the fluid which nonnally flows through the upper inlet swivel. Such additional drilling mud or fluid may be for the purpose of increasing the volume of drilling fluid for mixture with the normal drilling mud that is flowing through the drill string. In some instances, the side inlet swivel A may be used with a solid connection instead of the stem 10 so that the upper end of the swivel is closed. In such circumstances, the swivel A may be used for the boring or drilling of a tunnel or hole beneath a road or similar area. With such construction, the side inlet swivel A makes it possible to introduce the drilling fluid or mud, even though the upper end of the swivel body is closed for the drive connection.

Considering the invention more in detail the swivel A in- I cludes a swivel body 12 having a longitudinal bore 12a, and a counterbore 12b, with a shoulder 12c defined therebetween. In the preferred form of the invention the upper end of the bore 12a is provided with threads 12d which are adapted to receive the corresponding external threads on the lower end of the rotatable stem 10 extending from the conventional inlet swivel. If the swivel A is used for the horizontal boring of tunnels or passages underneath a road, the stem 10 is replaced by a closed drive plug which has threads engaging the threads 12d and which has an external portion with wrench flats or any other suitable surface thereon to provide a driving connection. as will be well understood.

The swivel body I2 has a side opening l2e which is disposed below the shoulder 12c, and which is adapted to admit drilling mud or other fluid into the body 12, as will be more evident hereinafter,

An inner tube 15 is disposed within the counterbore 12b of the swivel body 12 and it has its inner bore 15a substantially in alignment with the bore 12a of the swivel body 12. The diameter of the external surface 15b of the inner tube 15 is less than the diameter of the counterbore 12b so as to provide a longitudinal passage 16 between the inner tube 15 and the counterbore 12b. In the preferred form of the invention, such passage 16 is annular to provide a maximum volume area for the flow of fluid, although the passage 16 may be less than the full annular area between the inner tube 15 and the counterbore 12b. The upper end 15c of the tube 15 ispreferably enlarged and has suitable grooves 15d for retaining O-rings 18 in such grooves 15 and in sealing contact with the upper portion of the counterbore 12b above the inlet opening l2e to thereby provide a fluid seal for controlling the flow of fluid entering through the inlet opening 122 so that it flows downwardly through the passage or annulus l6.

THe lower end of the body 12 is provided with external threads 12f which are adapted to receive corresponding threads on a sub 20 which is provided for connecting to a conventional pipe string or kelly in the known manner. TIIe sub 20 has a plurality of inwardly or radially extending lugs 20a welded thereto for coaction with corresponding lugs 152 which are welded or otherwise fixed-to the tube 15. Thus, when the swivel body 12 is rotated in use, the lugs 20a transmit such rotational movement to the lugs 15e so that the tube 15 rotates with the swivel body 12. Also, the sub 20 is preferably provided with an annular shoulder 20a which is adapted to receive the lower portions of the lugs 15e to retain the inner tube 15 at a fixed longitudinal position with respect to the swivel 12 after the sub 20 has been threaded into its position as shown in FIG. 1. The tube 15 may be readily removed and replaced by simply removing the sub 20.

A side inlet housing 25 surrounds the swivel body 12 at an intermediate point in proximity to the inlet opening l'2e (FIG. 1). The housing 25 is substantially cylindrical, except that it has a side inlet 25a which is adapted to be connected to a pipe or other conductor for supplying drilling mud or other fluid thereto from any source (not shown). The housing 25 preferably has an annular chamber 2511 which is formed inwardly of the housing inlet 25a so that regardless of the position of the inlet 215a with respect to the opening 12b, fluid will readily flow from the inlet 25a through the annular chamber or passage 25b to the opening 12.

In the preferred form of the invention, the housing 25 has an upper annular recess 250 for receiving an upper packing 27 which may be of any suitable type such as the common chevron packing. A similar lower recess 25d is formed below the inlet 25a for receiving a lower annular packing 28 which is likewise formed of any suitable sealing material such as a chevron packing.

In the preferred form of the invention, a washpipe 30 is slidably disposed over the swivel body 12 between the external surface of the body 12 and the packing 27 and 28. The washpipe 30 has an opening 30a therethrough which is in alignment with the inlet opening l2e, and is maintained in such alignment by any type of aligning means such as a pin 31 which is secured in the body 12 and which extends into a U-shaped slot 30b at the upper end of the washpipe 30. The washpipe 30 may be readily inserted and removed by longitudinally sliding it upwardly on the body 12 so as to position the pin 31 in the slot 30b. At that time the opening 300 is aligned with the opening l2e. Suitable O-rings or other seal rings 32 and 33 are provided above and below the openings 30a and l2e so as to prevent the leakage of fluid between the washpipe 30 and the external surface of the swivel body 12. The washpipe 30 is retained in the aligned position on the swivel body 12 by a washpipe holddown nut 35 which is threaded to external threads 12g on the body 12.

The external surface of the washpipe .30 is preferably made of a hard material such as steel which is case hardened so as to provide a long wearing surface, but in the event such surface becomes worn, the entire washpipe 30 may be readily replaced so as to provide a smooth surface for engagement by the packings 27 and 28.

THe packing 27 is readily compressed to increase the effective sealing action thereof by the tightening of packing-adjusting screws 37 which are threaded into the upper end of the side inlet housing 25 and which extend through suitable openings 38a in a packing-adjusting gland 38. The packing-adjusting gland has an annular lower edge or surface 38b which rests upon the upper end of the packing 27 and serves to compress same in the recess 25c for providing an effective seal between the housing 25 and the washpipe 30. A similar packing gland 40 is provided for the lower packing 26 and it is adjustable for compressing the packing 28 by means of adjustable screws 41 which are threaded into the lower end of the housing 25 and which extend through suitable openings 40 a in the gland 40.

A hearing housing 45 is secured to a bearing cap 46 which in turn is secured to the upper end of the swivel body 12 at threads 12h. A pair of conventional bearings 48 are carried in the housing 45 and are retained in position by the molded connection between the bearing cap 46 and the housing 45 which is provided by the removable bolt or screws 50. Suitable grease seals 51 are provided at each end of the bearings 48.

The housing 25 is supported from the bearing housing 45 by means of a plurality of connecting bolts 60 which extend through a suitable eye or ring 450 secured to the external surface of the bearing housing 45 and a similar eye or ring 25e which is welded or is otherwise secured to the external surface of the housing 25. Each of such bolts 60 has a head 60a to limit its downward movement with respect to the eye or ring 450, and each is provided with one or more nuts 61 which are threaded thereto for adjusting the relative position of the housing 25 with respect to the bearing housing 45.

In the operation or use of the side inlet swivel A of this invention, the side inlet 25 is connected to any suitable fixed pipe or conductor (not shown) so that the bearing housing 45 and the side inlet housing 25 do not rotate due to their interconnection through the bolt or bolts 60. Tl-le swivel body 12 is rotated, normally through the rotation of the stem from a conventional swivel thereabove or a suitable drive connection. The washpipe 30 rotates with the swivel body 12 and relative to the packing 27 and 28. Thus, the fluid seal is maintained at the inlet 254 so that fluid which is directed through such inlet 25a is caused to flow through the opening 30a and the opening 122 into the longitudinal passage 16. The inner tube 15 may be connected to tubes therebelow, so that the fluid which is introduced through the side inlet opening 250 passes downwardly in the passage 16 and then flows upwardly through the open lower end of the longitudinal bore of the swivel body 12 for discharge upwardly through a suitable outlet (not shown).

The inner tube 15 may be readily replaced by simply unthreading the sub 20, which completely releases the tube 15 from the swivel body 12 for replacement or repair. The packings 27 and 28 may be readily replaced by loosening the packing glands 38 and 40 respectively. Also, as previously explained, the washpipe 30 may be readily replaced by simply removing the nut 35 and then allowing the washpipe 30 to drop downwardly. With the diameters as illustrated in FIG. 1, the sub is removed prior to removing the washpipe 30 so that the nut 35 and the washpipe 30 can clear the lower end of the swivel body 12 and thus be in a position for removal.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A side inlet swivel, comprising:

a swivel body having a longitudinal bore through at least a ortion thereof;

said swivel body having a side opening in communication with said longitudinal bore;

a side inlet housing adapted to be positioned around said body and having a side inlet therewith aligned with said side opening in said swivel body for admitting fluid from said side inlet housing into said longitudinal bore of said swivel body;

a bearing housing having bearings disposed between said swivel body and said housing;

means connecting said bearing housing to said side inlet housing for thereby permitting rotation of said swivel body relative to said bearing housing and said side inlet housing;

an upper annular packing between said side inlet housing and said swivel body and disposed above said side inlet;

a lower annular packing between said side inlet housing and said swivel body and disposed below said side inlet;

said longitudinal bore of said swivel body extending for the full length thereof and being formed with a lower counterbore;

an inner tube disposed in said swivel body and having its bore in fluid communication with said bore of said swivel body; and

at least a portion of said external surface of said inner tube spaced from the wall of said counterbore of said swivel body to provide a longitudinal flow passage directing fluid from said side opening of said swivel body to the lower end of said inner tube for mixing such fluid with fluid flowing through the bore of said swivel body and said inner tube.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

a washpipe disposed between said packings and the external surface of said swivel body;

said washpipe having a lateral opening in alignment with said inlet opening in said swivel body; and

means for releasably securing said washpipe to said swivel body whereby the washpipe may be readily replaced when wear thereon occurs due to the engagement by said packings during the relative rotation therebetween.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

a washpipe disposed between said packings and the external surface of said swivel body; and

means mounted on the external surface of said swivel body for releasably securing said washpipe to said swivel body whereby the washpipe may be readily replaced when wear thereon occurs due to the engagement by said packings during the relative rotation therebetween.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

lock means for locking said inner tube to said swivel body for rotation therewith. rotation 5. The structure set forth in claim 4, wherein said lock means includes:

a releasable sub releasably mounted on the lower end of said swivel body; and

coacting lugs on said inner tube and said sub for engagement with each other to transmit rotation from said swivel body to said inner tube.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said sub has an internal shoulder for receiving the lugs on said inner tube for preventing longitudinal movement of said inner tube relative to said sub and swivel body when said sub is secured to said swivel body. 

1. A side inlet swivel, comprising: a swivel body having a longitudinal bore through at least a portion thereof; said swivel body having a side opening in communication with said longitudinal bore; a side inlet housing adapted to be positioned around said body and having a side inlet therewith aligned with said side opening in said swivel body for admitting fluid from said side inlet housing into said longitudinal bore of said swivel body; a bearing housing having bearings disposed between said swivel body and said housing; means connecting said bearing housing to said side inlet housing for thereby permitting rotation of said swivel body relative to said bearing housing and said side inlet housing; an upper annular packing between said side inlet housing and said swivel body and disposed above said side inlet; a lower annular packing between said side inlet housing and said swivel body and disposed below said side inlet; said longitudinal bore of said swivel body extending for the full length thereof and being formed with a lower counterbore; an inner tube disposed in said swivel body and having its bore in fluid communication with said bore of said swivel body; and at least a portion of said external surface of said inner tube spaced from the wall of said counterbore of said swivel body to provide a longitudinal flow passage directing fluid from said side opening of said swivel body to the lower end of said inner tube for mixing such fluid with fluid flowing through the bore of said swivel body and said inner tube.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1, including: a washpipe disposed between said packings and the external surface of said swivel body; said washpipe having a lateral opening in alignment with said inlet opening in said swivel body; and means for releasably securing said washpipe to said swivel body whereby the washpipe may be readily replaced when wear thereon occurs due to the engagement by said packings during the relative rotation therebetween.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 1, including: a washpipe disposed between said packings and the external surface of said swivel body; and means mounted on the external surface of said swivel body for releasably securing said washpipe to said swivel body whereby the washpipe may be readily replaced when wear thereon occurs due to the engagement by said packings during the relative rotation therebetween.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 1, including: lock means for locking said inner tube to said swivel body for rotation therewith. rotation
 5. The structure set forth in claim 4, wherein said lock means includes: a releasable sub releasably mounted on the lower end of said swivel body; and coacting lugs on said inner tube and said sub for engagement with each other to transmit rotation from said swivel body to said inner tube.
 6. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein: said sub has an internal shoulder for receiving the lugs on said inner tube for preventing longitudinal movement of said inner tube relative to said sub and swivel body when said sub is secured to said swivel body. 